Biography

Mutts is a current rock band formed in 2009 by Mike Maimone (keyboards/vocals) and Bob Buckstaff (bass). Drummer Chris Pagnani joined in late 2011. Based in Chicago, IL, the independent group released 3 EPs in their first 2 years together - Pretty Pictures, We Float and The Tells of Parallels. From 2011 through 2014 the band then released 4 LPs - Pray for Rain, Separation Anxiety, Object Permanence and Fuel Yer Delusion vol. 4 - each of which charted on the CMJ Top 200 for college and independent radio airplay. A covers EP and split 7" vinyl release came out in 2015 while the band topped 130 tour dates for the 4th straight year. Mutts is working on new music in 2016. All releases are available at muttsmusic.com

Chicago’s Mutts are a keys/bass/drums trio described as “like Tom Waits fronting a garage band” by Time Out Magazine, and “what Queens Of The Stone Age would sound like if they ditched the guitars and started playing dirty sounding organs” by Loud Loop Press. In 2016 the band is working on new music while playing regionally – highlighted by a sold out hometown show at Schubas on February 27, 2016. This emphasis on new music follows a 2015 in which Mutts continued to pound the pavement in support of their successful fourth LP. And along with their 132 tour dates across 25 states (including FEST in Gainesville and repeat appearances at national fests SXSW, Summerfest, Donkey Creek and Mile of Muisc), Mutts still made time to record and release a covers EP and a split 7″ single!

In 2014, Mutts recorded and released Fuel Yer Delusion vol. 4 – which became their fourth straight album to chart on the CMJ Top 200, reaching #111 over a two-month run. They also played 152 tour dates across 21 states – including Riot Fest, Musikfest, 5 SXSW shows, WFPK Live Lunch, JBTV and headlining the Metro to celebrate the release of their new album. Their song God, Country, Grave, was also prominently featured in Banshee on Cinemax and continues to bring more exposure to this hard-working unsigned band.

This follows a banner 2013 in which Mutts released their sixth independent release and first acoustic LP – Object Permanence. The Big Takeover Magazine described the new sound as “rollicking New Orleans barrelhouse blues/R&B.”

If Mutts were worried about a sonic shift derailing their momentum, they shouldn’t have been. Object Permanence reached #149 on the CMJ Top 200, was named one of WXRT’s Best of 2013, and the initial vinyl pressing sold out in just 8 months. Mutts supported the LP with over 150 tour dates in 2013, plus appearances on Daytrotter, National TV, WBEZ and Audio Tree Live. They also performed at several festivals and opened for national acts including Murder By Death, Maps & Atlases and Phox.

Banner for Mutts on cmj for a third time

Just eight months earlier, Mutts released the companion to Object Permanence – Separation Anxiety. Together, these two albums address singer/songwriter Mike Maimone’s coming out process, coming from conservative roots and graduating with a business degree from the University of Notre Dame. Separation Anxiety became the second Mutts release to chart on the CMJ Top 200 in 2012, peaking at #72 over it’s six week run. That year the band visited 16 states performing over 100 shows and festivals, supporting artists ranging from Flobots to Imagine Dragons to Company of Thieves.

Mutts released their debut album, Pray for Rain, on December 13th, 2011. It charted for six consecutive weeks on the CMJ Top 200, peaking at #107 twice. It was named one of the top Chicago albums of 2011 by The Huffington Post and received praise in national magazines Alternative Press, The Big Takeover and The Deli. Mutts were also named Chicago’s Emerging Artist of 2011 by The Deli Magazine.

In their first year together Mutts independently put out 3 EPs: Pretty Pictures, We Float and The Tells of Parallels. Developing a unique, genre-bending sound, Mutts were already “poised to become one of Chicago’s top acts,” according to Loud Loop Press.

Outside of the studio, Mutts fulfilled the buzz garnered by their recordings and Chicago music scene pedigree (members have played in: Empires, Wax on Radio, The Hush Sound, Suns, Bailiff, 8-Bit Tiger, Big Science, This is Cinema and Company of Thieves). By their second year together, the band was headlining at staple Chicago venues including The Empty Bottle, Double Door and Subterranean. Throughout 2011 they also hit the road often, playing nearly 100 tour dates between their other jobs and session work.

Mutts decided from the outset to give away their music digitally. There is a free 13-track sampler spanning their first 6 releases at http://free.muttsmusic.com. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.